Greek Americans in Bay Ridge hold annual Brooklyn parade celebrating 203rd anniversary of Greek independence

… And, there’s a feast that follows!

March 28, 2024 Wayne Daren Schneiderman

Student musicians marching through the streets at 203rd Greek Independence parade.

Student musicians marching through the streets.
Brooklyn Eagle Photos by Wayne Daren Schneiderman

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BAY RIDGE — While it’s not Astoria, Queens — home of the second largest Greek population outside of Greece itself — Bay Ridge, Brooklyn boasts a significant number of Greek Americans in its own right.

And there was no shortage of folks from the Hellenic Republic on Monday morning, as Bay Ridge’s Holy Cross Church parochial school, the Dimitrios and Georgia Kaloidis (DGK) School, held an intimate Greek Independence Day parade commemorating the 203rd anniversary of Greek independence — in addition to the Feast of the Annunciation of the Virgin Mary.

For almost two centuries, the celebration of the Feast of the Annunciation has been joined by the commemoration of the struggles for independence by forbearers in Greece against the rule of the Ottoman Empire that began in March 1821. These two observances have been, and continue to be, vital, as they represent a deep connection of church and heritage — and of faith and life.

This third annual Greek Independence Day parade began in front of DGK (8520 Ridge Blvd), went up to Third Avenue and then looped around to 86th Street, before ultimately returning to the school.

The weather was significantly sunny, and the wind was whisking just enough to call attention to the many blue and white Greek flags that parade participants and spectators had swaying in the breeze as they walked down the avenue.

The procession included, of course, the Greek community, Holy Cross Church, Ladies Philoptochos, DGK students, administrators, and teachers — the Hellenic Charter School and the Parent Teacher Association (KAPT).

Fr. Gerasimos Makris of Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Church explained, “It’s so important to keep the Greek spirit alive. And we pray that the Greek Independence Day parade is here for many, many years to come — and that our children learn to be people that sacrifice for the community, not people that desire to gain from it.”

Maria Vasaka-Monioudis, president and parish council of Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Church, told the Brooklyn Eagle that she is “incredibly proud to be Greek Orthodox, to be Greek American, and to be in the greatest neighborhood of the borough of Brooklyn acknowledging such an important Greek holiday.”